Attorneys for a mentally challenged man, who spent 25 years in prison and was later exonerated through DNA evidence, are seeking damages and compensation for their client in a civil trial that is being held in a Fort Lauderdale federal court.

Attorneys for the man, who was convicted for the murder and rape of a 58-year-old woman in 1984 and was subsequently released in 2009, claim that their client was the victim of a “malicious prosecution.” Additionally, they state that the City of Miramar and the Sheriff’s office were negligent in their supervision of the officers during the case.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, an expert witness told the jury that the detectives who conducted the investigation failed to pursue more likely suspects, did not write complete reports, and contaminated and failed to test evidence.
Stating that mentally challenged suspects often have a “propensity to please,” the expert witness went on to say that the detectives violated standards for interrogating mentally challenged suspects. Also, they did not follow up even though the suspect had many details of the crime wrong.

The plaintiff’s attorney suggested that the investigating officers may have fed his client information about the crime while they drove him around for hours and took him to the crime scene in-between statements, which were taken over a period of several days. Another man, who died of natural causes in 2010, was linked to the crime through DNA evidence. He had been named a “person of interest” in the case shortly before his death.

If you believe you have suffered harm due to the negligence of another party or parties, contact personal injury attorney Eddie E. Farah and the team at Farah & Farah. Personal injury not only covers physical injuries, but emotional and psychological ones as well. Call Farah & Farah at (800) 533-3555 or contact us online so we can discuss your case and explain your legal options. Your consultation is free and confidential.